Tobacco pouch



Filed April 11,, 1938 3 522 w 2 a Q a .o 1 E m w H w r m A a K m m J 3 9 7 Q aUHu w Q K PM]. Ww m K flu Q 1 3 Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOBACCO POUCH Tracy B. Tyler, Chicago, 111.

Application April 11,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to tobacco pouches, and has as its primary object to provide a moistureretaining and air-tight pouch.

Attempts have been made to produce pouches that are air-tight by making them of non-absorbent or air-excluding material, but these attempts have not been fully successful, for when such pouches are formed by sewing the material together, the stitching perforations will allow moisture to gradually escape from the pouch, resulting in gradual drying of the tobacco therein. The present invention cures this defect by applying a coating to the seams so as to seal the perforations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pouch having a relatively simple and inexpensive yet effective sealing lip arrangement, of novel construction, in conjunction with a conventional slide fastener closure, or any other type of closure, for sealing the mouth of the pouch when closed. The invention in this respect utilizes a tubular fold of non-absorbent sheet material (which may be a continuation of the pouch material) to form the sealing surface of the lips, and maintains the necessary protrusion to form the lips by padding or filling this fold with some bolstering material, such as heavy cord or other packing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pouch that is adapted to act as a humidor. To that end, an inner lining and outer casing are both made of water impervious material, and an intermediate layer of absorbent material, such as flannel or felt is interposed between them. One edge of the intermediate layer is exposed to the interior of the pouch in a seam that is turned inwardly. The interstices between the intermediate layer and the inner lining and outer casing portions of this inturned seal, will allow a small amount of moisture, present in the intermediate layer, to reach the interior of the pouch by evaporations, but direct passage of the moisture to the interior of the pouch by capillary action, is prevented by impregnation of the edge of the intermediate layer with a suitable waterproof plastic materialsuch as Bakelite varnish or the like, so that the tobacco in the pouch may not become too moist, particularly in the vicinity of the seam. I prefer the use of a phenol formaldehyde product, such as, for example,- the substance now being commercially sold under the name Bakelite varnish which, although rather stiff on drying, is somewhat flexible when applied to cloth, such as oil skin and the like, and which is sufficient for my purposes. Means is provided 1938, Serial No. 201,214.

for introducing moisture to the said intermediate layer, said means being also effective for automatically closing the opening through which the moisture is introduced so as to prevent evaporation therethrough of the moisture that has been introduced, and to prevent entry of dirt therethrough into the space between the outer casing and the intermediate layer.

Another object is to provide a pouch having, in addition to the foregoing desirable qualities, an ornamentation which will not wear off nor absorb grease or dirt or become dimmed by handling with soiled hands. This is accomplished by employing as the material of the outer casing a relatively thin transparent material, such as oiled silk, and applying the design or ornamentation to the intermediate layer.

A still further object is to provide a pouch so constructed that the outer layer, of relatively thin water impervious material such as oiled silk, will not readily crack under folding or pinching. The intermediate layer of relatively thick soft material such as flannel or felt serves, in this connection, as a cushion to prevent sharp folds in either casing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a tobacco pouch of the above mentioned character a pipe holding compartment, said compartment being formed by two side wall members secured together by a line of stitching forming an inturned seam extending along the bot tom and one end of the pouch and the other end being closed by an extension of the slide fastener which closes the top or open mouth of the tobacco compartment, said side walls being provided with openings bound by eyelets adapted for receiving the valve members of the tobacco pouch in a frictional fit; the upper edges of said side walls being secured by lines of stitching or in some other suitable and well known manner to the upper portion of said tobacco pouch, said stitching means being arranged above the sealing lips of the closure for the tobacco pouch.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing preferred embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tobacco pouch embodying the invention, parts being broken away to better illustrate the construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof taken as indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the pouch illustrated in Fig. 3, taken as indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, the tobacco pouch. which has been selected as illustrative of one form that the invention may take, comprises a pair of side members A and B joined together along their bottom and two end edges to form a pocket or pouch having at its upper extremity a mouth is extending full length from one end to the other.

Each of the sides A and B comprises an outer casing wall ll], an inner casing wall II, and an intermediate layer l2, the walls It] and II being of water impervious material such as oilskin, and the layer l2 being of absorbent material such as flannel or felt.

The two sides A and B are joined together by a line or lines of stitching l3 forming a seam extending along the bottom of the pouch as at M and along the ends of the pouch as at l5. This seam projects into the interior of the pouch as shown.

Formed in the upper edges of the sides A and B respectively, and defining the mouth It, are a pair of coacting sealing lips l'l. Each of the lips il is formed by a length of heavy cord or rope l8 secured in a fold I9 of the inner lining Ii,

- wrapped downwardly around the cord 18 from the upper extremity of the lining l I and stitched as at 20 to the body of the lining I i. Between the upper extremities of the lining II and outer casing wall iii of each side A and B is the fabric mounting tape 2| of a slide fastener member including fastener elements 22 adapted to coact with the elements of the opposite fastener member to close themouth l6. When the mouth is thus closed, the lips I! will contact each other to seal the mouth. The structure of the oilskin material cooperating with the rope-like elements is of such smoothness, flexibility and resiliency that a moisture-tight seal is thus formed.

An operating or pull member 23 is provided for operating the slide fastener.

The fastener tapes are secured by lines of stitching P3 3 and Z5 extendingthrough the inner linings H, the outer casings l0, and the intermediate absorbent layers I 2. In a conventional pouch, these lines of stitching would allow moisture to escape from the pouch. According to the present invention, the lines of stitching are coated w'tih layers of material 26 such as a varnish made from a phenol formaldehyde prodnot or any other flexible waterproof material.

In order to adapt the pouch to act as a humidor, a certain desired amount of moisture may be introduced into the interior thereof through the medium of the intermediate layer I2 disposed between the inner lining II and the outer casing iii. This moisture may be introduced through my improved mechanism, which includes valves 3i mounted in the outer casing walls. Each of the valves 3i may comprise valve casing members 32 and 33 respectively, having telescoping cylindrical portions 34 secured to them with a pressed fit, and peripheral flanges 35 engaging the wall member iii around an opening 36 therein in which the valve is mounted. If desired, the intermediate layer i2 may also be provided with an opening in the side walls thereof, the edges of which openings may be received between the peripheral flanges 35 to clamp the same therebetween substantially in the same manner that these same flanges 35 engage the wall member l0 around the opening 36.

The inner casing member 32 may have a central cupped region 31 receiving a spring 38 which urges a ball 39 against a valve seat defined by an opening at in the outer casing member said ball being effective for normally securely closing said opening 40, thereby prcventing the escape of moisture from the spaces between the inner lining and the outer casing, and also will be effective for preventing the entry of dirt or other foreign matter into said spaces. Of course, when it is desired to introduce a fluid to said spaces, the same may be accomplished by pressing against the ball member 35 and introducing fluid past the opening. 40, which fluid will reach the intermediate layer I2 through the central opening ii provided in the cupped region 31. Although two of saidvalve members 3| are illustrated in the drawing, it is obvious that if desired only one of said valve members may be employed with substantially equally satisfactory results.

The moisture introduced into the intermediate layer l2 will reach the interior of the pouch by evaporation through the interstices present in the inner seam. In order to prevent too large an amount of moisture reaching the interior of the pouch, the edges of the intermediate layer i2 which forms the inner seam of the pouch when the layer is in fully assembled position, are impregnated as at M with a suitable semi-plastic material such as a varnish made from a phenol formaldehyde product, or the like to prevent moisture seeping into the interior of the pouch through said edges of the intermediate layer by so-called capillary or wick action. It has been found from actual practice that a sufficient amount of moisture will reach the interior of the pouch to properly maintain the tobacco in a moistened condition by merely permitting such moisture as will reach the interior of the pouch through the interstices present in the inner seam between the impregnated edges of the intermediate layer and the inner lining and outer casing by evaporation or the like. This arrangement has been found very satisfactory in properly humidifying the tobacco disposed within the pouch and at the same time preventing too much moisture from reaching said tobacco.

The outer casing Iii is transparent, and the intermediate layer l2 may be imprinted with an ornamental design 42 which is plainly visible through the casing, the latter serving to prevent wearing oif of the printing or dimming thereof by accumulation of dirt on the material forming the background of the design. Being waterproof, the casing maybe washed as often as may be desired, and the design beneath is perfectly preserved and protected and always visible as when new, as long as the casing is kept clean.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, there is provided a pouch having a tobacco holding compartment C and a pipe holding compartment D. The compartment C is of a construction similar to that comprising the entire pouch of Figs. 1 and 2, including the outer casing Ill, the inner lining H, the intermediate layer I 2, the inturned seam l3, 14, the sealing lips H, the fastener 2|, 22, and the valves 3|.

The formation of the compartment D is accomplished by the provision of an outer casing 42, an intermediate layer 43 of any suitable material such, for example, as leather or the like, and an inner layer 44, arranged in two side walls secured together by a line of stitching 45 forming an inturned seam 46 extending along the bottom and one end of the pouch, the other end being closed by an extension 41 of the slide fastener 2|, 22, which extends along the top or mouth of the tobacco compartment. The sealing lips I! are also arranged so as to extend downwardly along the end which is closed by the fastener portion 41. The inner compartment C is spaced from the bottom and one end of the pipe compartment D to form a horizontal lower portion 48 and the vertical end portion 49, the former to receive the pipe stem and the latter to receive the bowl of the pipe.

The Walls of the compartment D are provided with openings through which may extend the valves 3| secured to the tobacco compartment, said openings having suitable eyelets 50 secured to their edges, which eyelets will frictionally engage the valve casing 24 of said valve members when the device is in fully assembled condition.

The walls of the compartment D are secured to the tobacco pouch proper by lines of stitching 5| to the tapes 2| of the slide fastener. If desired, the said linesof stitching 5| may be covered with a suitable semi-plastic waterproof material 52. The inner compartment C has flange portions 53 secured to the tapes 2| by lines of stitching 54, said flange portions. 53 forming extensions of the material covering the lips I1. In order to properly confine the flexible lips ll within the material covering the same, suitable stitching 54 may be employed, said stitching being arranged as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing at a point directly above said rope-like elements I3 and securely confines the same in place within the folded over portion of the outer casing l8 and inner lining ll of the tobacco pouch. As shown in Fig. 4, the rows of stitching 54 and 5 are arranged at a point above the sealing lips of the tobacco pouch whereby when the tobacco pouch is in closed condition there will be no danger of moisture escaping from the tobacco compartment through the perforations formed by the rows of stitching 54 and 54'. A line of stitching 25a, is also provided for securing the down turned portion 1 9 of the inner lining which forms a covering of the lips 11, said stitching extending through the upper region of the intermediate layer IZ, the outer casing I 0 and the down turned portion l9, the stitching 54 and 25a cooperating with each other to securely confine the rope-like elements l8 within the folded over portion I! as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Since the row of stitching 54 is arranged above the sealing lips 11, it will not be The provision of the intermediate layer 12 which, being formed of a relatively thick, soft material such as flannel or felt will prevent damage or injury to the outer layer from cracking due to folding or pinching by reason of said intermediate layer forming a cushion, thereby preventing sharp folds in the outer casing.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tobacco pouch, an outer casing and an. inner lining both of flexible moisture impervious material, an intermediate layer of absorbent material disposed between said outer casing and inner lining, and means for allowing the introduction of moisture to said intermediate layer, said intermediate layer serving to retain said moisture and to allow the same to escape slowly by evaporation into the interior of the pouch.

2. In a tobacco pouch, an outer casing and an inner lining both of flexible moisture impervious material, an intermediate layer of absorbent material disposed between said outer casing and inner lining, and means for allowing the introduction of moisture to said intermediate layer, said intermediate layer serving to retain said moisture and to allow the same to escape slowly by evaporation into the interior of the pouch through an edge region of said intermediate layer, exposed in an inturned seam communicating with the interior of the pouch, said edge region being impregnated with moisture impervious material so as to limit the escape of moisture into the interior of the pouch.

3. In a tobacco pouch, a side wall comprising an inner lining and an outer casing and an intermediate layer of absorbent material, and a valve member fixed in an aperture in said outer casing, to allow the introduction of moisture to said intermediate layer.

4. In a tobacco pouch, a side wallcomprising an inner lining and an outer casing both of moisture impervious material and an intermediate layer of absorbent material, and a valve member fixed in an aperture in said outer casing, to allow the introduction of moisture to said intermediate layer, said intermediate layer being arranged to allow slow escape of moisture into the interior of the pouch.

5. In a pouch of the character described including a tobacco compartment and a pipe compartment, said tobacco compartment comprising side walls of flexible moisture impervious mate rial joined together along three sides and unjoined along their fourth sides to form a mouth,

slide fastener members and flexible sealing lips stitched to said side walls along said unjoined edges and coacting to form a moisture impervious closure for said mouth, said pipe compartment being formed by a pair of side walls of flexible material joined together along one end and the bottom edge by a line of stitching forming an inturned seam, the other end and top edge of said last mentioned side walls being secured to said walls forming the tobacco compartment by rows of stitching, said rows of stitching being arranged at a point above said flexible sealin lips whereby when said tobacco compartment is closed it will not permit the escape of moisture therefrom through the perforations formed by the last mentioned stitching means.

TRACY B. TYLER. 

